Social media, email and texting may be all the rage now, but who doesn’t love receiving a card – either in person or via the postal service? We’ve all had to “make do” with standard greeting cards but now we have Cards o’ Glee for all things papery and fun! Located at 501 Nevada Way, Suite 1 (at the corner of Nevada Way and Arizona Street), the shop is ready for customers beginning this Saturday from 11:00AM to 5:00PM.
Perhaps you already know the shop’s owner, Nicole Twardzik, from some of her incredible card posts on Facebook (HERE) and Instagram (HERE) or you saw a pic of her fantastic backyard mural (pictured below). Or perhaps you know her from her day job as a school counselor. Maybe you haven’t had the opportunity yet to meet her in person, but you really need to take some time out of your weekend and head over to her store and pick up some things you didn’t know you needed to have!
Nicole is a fount of bubbly energy and her art reflects her charming personality. We had a chance to sit down with her recently and ask her a bunch of fun questions about how she arrived at this point in her life. Basically, it’s because she’s at a particular point in her life – looking absolutely fabulous at 40! – that she decided to cross an item off her bucket list: owning her own business. And what better business than putting a smile on others’ faces with beautifully crafted cards and gifts for the special people in your life? It’s something she’s been doing since she was a little girl when she would make cards for family and friends for any number of occasions. It continued into high school and beyond and we must say that receiving a card from Nicole had to be an absolute treat! Along the way she picked up an English major and art minor, taught English and became a school counselor. Now she’s adding business owner to her resume and we’re so glad she picked our town to spread her wings!
Walking into the shop is a feast for the eyes with bright colors splashed on the walls, beautiful chandelier lighting fixtures, and greeting cards that have visual as well as humorous appeal. There are also all the things that we papyrophiliacs (yes, there’s a word for it) crave: pens, wrapping paper, pencils, planners, small gifts, etc. The twist here is that all of the ephemera we enjoy is, in Nicole’s own words, “cheeky and fresh”. There’s even a special room for the, ahem, especially “blunt and sweary” merchandise that some of us covet: the Cussing Closet. The shop receives beautiful creations from approximately twenty other women-owned businesses, including some designers from here in Clark County.
On our recent visit, we met Nicole’s father, Wes Twardzik, who came into town to help prep and build some of the displays in the shop. He was busily measuring a door for weatherproofing on a cold spring day. Her sister, Britt Twardzik, was busily making t-shirts for the weekend grand opening. Rounding out her support team is her dear husband, Matt Wilson, himself also a teacher and huge supporter of Nicole’s dreams. Fortunately, he’s also a good cook so Nicole stays energized while holding down her card shop and her regular job.
There will be all the usual occasion greeting cards, like for Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day, but also special occasion cards for the unsung victories in life, like filling up your gas tank before the light comes on, keeping your kids alive despite all the LEGO pieces you’ve stepped on, or resigning from that wretched job that made you miserable. She plans to expand her business by offering card writing and paper making workshops to her customers so you’ll want to get on the mailing list (HERE) so that you can dazzle the people in your own life with a fancy card of their own! Make sure to head down and check out the store on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00AM to 5:00PM. As Nicole would say, “Spread the glee like confetti!”
Photo Courtesy of Nicole Twardzik
